Eduard Matamoros moved to New York City from Austin, Texas where he was an adjunct professor in Austin Community College's Visual Communication program. He also worked as a user experience designer at GSD&M where he developed and deployed a number of digital properties for both global and national brands. Eduard's interest in technology education, human-computer interaction, and gaming led him to Teachers College where he is currently working towards the Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology and Media. Although the classrooms of Columbia Secondary seem to be worlds away from the corporate offices and college lecture halls of Eduard's previous professional life, he has seen first-hand the challenges students face in school and in the workplace when they ill-prepared in math and science. Eduard hopes that through his research in games, storytelling, and other interactive experience he will be better able to bring STEM fields to life for students.originally from Utah. She lived in Washington D.C. prior to coming to New York to begin her studies at Teachers College. She went to Mountain View HS in Orem, Utah where her favorite subjects were Math and Psychology. After graduating high school she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she was granted a degree Early Childhood Education. She later went on to obtain a certificate in Non-profit Management.

When not in the classroom Eduard enjoys competing in marathons and triathlons, and furthering his personal interest in health and nutrition. He enjoys visiting new media art gallerie and discovering new and interesting ways technology can be used as a form of art.

Akiea Gross

Akiea Gross was born and raised in Montgomery County, MD. She recently moved to New York City to pursue her Masters degree in the Developmental Psychology program at Teachers College. Before coming to TC, she taught preschool for AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School in Southwest, DC using their Every Child Ready Curriculum, which she also helped write poems and stories for. Prior to teaching at AppleTree, she taught toddlers & two year olds in inclusion classrooms in Silver Spring, MD. While pursuing her undergraduate degrees at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!), Akiea served as a Big Sister for a teenager in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a HYPE (Helping Youth by Providing Enrichment) tutor for elementary & middle school students and as a respite care provider for a teenager with Autism. She graduated Carolina with two Bachelors degrees: one in Child Development & Family Studies and the other in Psychology.

Akiea is excited to be working with the sixth graders of PS 76 this year in the Digital Storytelling program. As an individual who is passionate about creativity and fostering student success, Akiea is a huge advocate of after school programs that give children the opportunity to learn, create and to become independent thinkers. After school programming gives children a chance to explore their interests through a variety of exciting avenues in a safe and positive manner and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of one In her spare time, Akiea loves to play sports (especially basketball), go to the movies, spend time with her dogs, engage in photography and write. She is currently loving New York and is looking forward to all of the amazing work the 6th graders of PS 76 are going to do this year!